Over 25,000 martyrs buried in China's largest Red Army martyr cemetery: documentary

An excerpt of a China Media Group (CMG) documentary showed the largest Red Army martyr cemetery in China, with 25,048 Red Army martyrs buried here.

The Red Army Martyr Cemetery of Sichuan-Shaanxi Revolutionary Base, located in Wangping Village of Tongjiang County of southwest China's Sichuan Province, is the largest Red Army martyr cemetery in China.

Among the 25,048 Red Army martyrs laid to rest here, most did not leave their names, and their tombstones are inscribed with a red star instead.

From October 1934 to October 1936, the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army troops left their bases and marched through raging rivers, frigid mountains and arid grassland to break the siege of the Kuomintang forces and continued to fight the Japanese invaders.

The ten-episode documentary aired on the CMG military channel from Oct. 17 to 26 is in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the starting of the Chinese Red Army's Long March. Ninety years ago, the Red Army troops set out from Yudu in east China's Jiangxi Province to begin the epic Long March. They passed through 14 provinces and regions across the country over the years.

The CMG documentary follows the route of the Long March, with the crew dedicating three months to revisiting the 14 provinces and regions.

With aerial photography as a key component of the production, this is the first time that a drone has been used to record the entire journey.

Over 25,000 martyrs buried in China's largest Red Army martyr cemetery: documentary

Over 25,000 martyrs buried in China's largest Red Army martyr cemetery:documentary

Over 25,000 martyrs buried in China's largest Red Army martyr cemetary:documentary

The spillover effect of the war in Iran has impacted the investment for reconstruction projects in Syria.

Many reconstruction plans in the country are facing widespread stagnation due to the funding gap partially brought by the economic impact of the conflicts in the region.

"Most projects that started work in Syria are currently stalled or somewhat delayed. A large number of projects remain at the commitment stage, and 99 percent of contracts have been halted. In the foreseeable future, there is no possibility of resuming operation," said Marai, a Syrian economist.

Analysts said the military conflicts in Iran are exerting multiple impacts on Syria's reconstruction through energy, logistics, and financial channels.

The disruptions in cross-border transportation and trade routes directly affect the import of engineering materials and equipment.

The disrupted supply chains and fluctuations in fuel prices have driven up the construction costs of various projects.

Furthermore, insufficient legal safeguards and swings of exchange rate further undermine investor confidence.

"Many projects have been suspended or delayed to some extent due to a lack of relevant resources. Disrupted energy supply, unstable exchange rates, and market uncertainties have made it difficult for investors to enter the Syrian market," said Marai.

Analysts believe that Syria's reconstruction prospects remain grim due to the spillover effects of the war in Iran and the internal structural problems of Syria.

If regional tensions persist, the economic and investment recovery in Syria will face long-term challenges.

Spillover of Iran war impacts Syria's reconstruction investment